Radiator return-trap.



No. 890,555. PATENTBD JUNE 9, 1908.

A. L. UANI'ILD & B. E. VAN AUKEN. RADIATOR RETURN TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1902.

f- Lym I taken upon line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

the interior of w l UNITED STATES PATET OFFX'CE. j l

ARTHUR, L. CANFIELD AND BYRON VAN AUKEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RADIATOR RETURN-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

f Patented .rune e, reca.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known -that we, ARTHUR L. CAN- FIELD and BYRON E. VAN AUKEN, of Chicago, in the countyl ofCookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Radiator ReturnTraps; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,- and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This inventionv relates to what may be styled a radiator return trap. e

It has for its object the removal of the water of condensation and air from a steam radiatoror any other receptacle where steam condenses.

The invention consists in the devices and combination of devices herein shownand described and which will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 isa central, vertical, sectional View of a trap embodying our improvement. Fig. -2 is a similar view Fig. 3 is a transverse, horizontal sectional View taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar View taken upon the line 4;-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view with the Weir omitted.

The letter A re resents the trap as a whole,

liich, together with the cap A1, constitutes a float chamber a. At the lower end thereof and projecting laterally therefrom is a tubular extension B, exteriorly screw-threaded at b, so that a connection may be made with a steam radiator or other steam receptacle. The passage b1 therein leads toa water chamber b2 or pocket opening into the lower end of the ioat chamber and into which dips'a Weir al.

C is a float. a2 are guide lugs 11 on the interior of th shell A for guiding t e float C. The lower end of the float C is provided with a valve c adapted to open or close upon a valve seat a3 which in this instance consists of a screwthreaded nut rovided with a central vertically arrangerf discharge aperture a4. The discharge aperture a4 communicates with the discharge passage b3 of the trap constituting the bore of a branch B1, the latter being interiorly screw-threaded, as shown, whereby connection may 'be made with any suitable discharge pipe. l

D is an air discharge `chamber communi'- cating at its upper` end with the float chamber'a by means of'a` port d, formed in a screw-threaded nipple extending through the' wall of the float chamber, and communicating at its lower end with the assage b3 by means of a assageway di. T ie upper end of the air cli plug or cap d2, and a suitable o ening in its side opposite the passageway is similarly closed by a screw plug or cap d3. Within the chamber D is an expansion valve device D* comprising two thermostatic members, the upper end of one member being secured, Vas shown, to the wall of the trap by the screwthreaded nipple in which is formed the port d, and the upper end of the other member being provided with a closure d4 adapted to close the portd when the thermostatically controlled device operates in one direction.

The lower ends of the two thermostatic members of the valve device D1 are secured together in anysuitable manner, as for example, by a rivet d5.

The wall of the trap separating the pocket b2 from the outlet passage b3 is provided Ywith a by-pass e which is normally closed by a conical valve e1 carried by a stem E. This stem E is screw-threaded at e2. whereby it may be secured to the interior of a lateral eX- amber D is closed by a screwsT tension B2 of the trap.k A suitable cap or plug B3 having screw-threaded connection with the outer end of the'extension B2, confines the'packing b4 to revent leakage, while the outer end of the p ug E is. provided with suitable means for turning the plug, as for example, by the nut e3.

Instead of the Weir a1 the wall of the passage b may be formed to constitute aweir a5, as shown in Fig. 5, which serves the same purpose as the said Weir al illustrated in Steam being admitted to the radiator, the pressure of the steam drives the air from the radiator and iioat chamber through the thermcstatically controlled air valve, which at this time is open, and when-.the a/ir in said chamber is displaced suiiiciently to permit the steam to impinge against the thermostatic bars D1, carrying the air valve closure, said closure is moved toward its seat to clo or partially close said valve. In practice, the thermostatically controlled airvalve is adjusted to close entirely, only momentarily, but said valve, for the greater portionof the time, remains in a state of unstable equilibrium, neither fully closed nor fully opened, so that for the greater part of the time, there is a slight leakage of a1r and vapor past the air valve. l This is a common condition Aand operation of valves of this character,` and is not herein illustrated.

The water of condensation, which is discharged from the radiator, with which the trap is connected, with a limitedvolume of air and steam or va or, is directed through the inlet branch B o the trap to the pocket b2 at the inner end thereof, and from thence enters the lower end of the float chamber. The condensation of steam or vapor which thus enters the float chamber, together with the effect of the slight leakage of air past the air valve, creates such a diHerenc'e of ressuresbetween the radiator and the iioat c amber that the water is forced upwardly into the float. chamber until it rises to or above the line of iiotation of the iioat, whereupon the float is elevated, thereby opening the Water valve and permitting the water to escape from the float chamber into the outlet branch or pipe B1, partially emptying the float chambers and sweeping some of the water out of the ocket b2. When the water is thus emptied rom the float chamber to a point below the line of flotation, the float descends by ravity and closes the Water outlet valve. W en the upper art of the float I chamber becomes filled wit air and the body of air becomes cooled, said thermostatically controlled air valve opens t`o ermit air to be driven more freely therefrom y the pressure of steam in the radiator, and when steam again reaches the thermostatic bars the air valve is again closed or partially closed. It will be understood that the adjustment of the air valve is such that it does not often fully open during the operation ofthe trap to ermit the air and vapor to escape freely om the float chamber to the return pipe, but that the valve, for the greater part of the time, remains in a position to roduce what is in effect a contracted vein. he variations of the temperature in the trap, however, causes the valve to vary'in its opening and closin and sometimes the air valve will be entire dy closed, while at others it Will be fully opene By reason of the resenceof the weir at the lnner end of the inlet passage or branch of the trap which is submerged 1n the water contained in said ocket or chamber b2 and in the lower end o the float chamber, whereby the escape of any considerable amount of steampast the weir is prevented, said Weir and pocket constitutes a trap located between the radiator and iioat chamber. While therefore, the slight leakage of air past the air valve and the condensation of steam in theiloat chamber establishes and maintains such difference of pressures between the radiator and the float chamber as will cause the water of condensation and air to pass u wardly into the float chamber and cause t e float to rise, yet the presence of the weir prevents the escape of any considerable amount of steam through the float chamber and the conse uent Wasting of such steam at the time -t e valve is thus opened. The thermostatically lcontrolled air valve co-acts with the Weir to produce the result referred to, and at the same time permits the escape of air from the radiator and from the lupper part `of the float chamber when the body of air in the uper part of the float chamber 'becomes su ciently cooled` The presence of the Valve el between the outlet side of the trap and the chamber or ocket b2 enables the latter` and the float chamer to be drained of the water which is not sufficient to lift the float, when the system in. which the trap is embodied is out of operation and thereby prevents the water from freezin in the trap. The entire removal of ysaidv va ve el and its stem E enables the chamber or pocket b2 to be cleaned out without the necessit of removin the trap as a whole.

It wil be noted t at the heatingsvstem discharges through a valve controlle conduit, the valve of which is governed by a float that is actuated by Water displaced from a seal located between the heating system and the valve, by reason of the differential ressures on the o posite .sides of said seal.

aid conduit, in the resent instance, comrises the lower part o the float chamber and lts discharge passage, the pocket b2 and the part t b which communication is had with the heatlng system. It will be obvious, li owever, that the said parts of the conduit ma f be variously arranged with respect to eac other without departing from the spirit of the'invention.

In the o eration of a heatin' system equipped wit a tra made as hereinbefore set forth, water of con ensation from the svstem under some conditions of operation is forced gradually into the float chamber ofthetrap, 1n which case the float is raised or lifted by flotation alone, while under other conditions of operation, a small or large quantity of Water will be forced 'into the float' chamber at a comparatively high velocity and will tend to find its way to the upper part of the iioat chamber through the space between the ioat and its surrounding wall; it being, of course, understood that in all casesl the reater pressure on the radiatorvside of the iquid seal roduces the-influx of water to the fioat cham er and the upward movement' of the Water in the float chamber constitutes the medium through which the float is lifted.

vsconce;

yet such space is relatively small inpro ortion to the fullzhoi'izonta chamber and as `a consequence, when avvolume of water enters the lower end of the float chamber rapidly or with considerable velocity, a lifting effect is. produced upon the float, other than'that due to flotation alone, because the comparatively restricted space affordedfor the upward flow or movement of water within the'iioat chamber necessarily results in such upward flowy or movement being retarded to a greater or less extent, with the result that upward ressure is exerted on the iioatV to a greater or yess degree de ending upon the quantity ofwater admitte at one time and its velocity. lSuch upward ressure, when eXerte-dtouany degree, ai s or -augments the effect of flotation in lgiving upward movement to the oat and effecting the opening of the valve. To the extent to which upward pressure is exerted on the float by thexrapid influx of a sin-.all quantity of Water to th-efloat chamber, or the more gradual entrance to the float chamber of a comparatively large lvolume of water, or the rapid entrance thereto of a large volume of water, in a tra made as illustrated in the accompanying rawings, (in which the water of condensation enters the bottom of the charge passage beyond float chamber and the float is made of such dimensions horizontally as to occupy a greater part of the horizontal area of the said flioat chamber) the'fioat acts as a piston or motor member to .aid the effect of flotation `in-lifting the float and opening the valve and vliquid seal arranged to be sealed by ythe accumulation of water of condensation in area of the oat.

said conduit, thereby increasing the differ-V ential pressure on opposite sides of said liquid seal, whereby -a portion of the vaccumulated water of condensation is forced into -said float chamber, anxair-dischargepassage arranged to discharge the air lafter it has passe said liquid seal, said air discharge passage communicatin v with the li uid disthe float c amber, and automatic'means' for restricting the flow of steam through said air discharge passage.

2. Valve 'mechanism for dischargin air i.and water of condensation from steam heating systems by diderential pressure, comprising a float chamber, a liquid discharge passa e communicating therewith, a float in said oat chamber, a valve rigidly attached to vand moving with said float or controlling -said discharge passage, a conduit adaptedto vprovide communication between a radiator and said float chamber, a li uid seal arranged to be sealed by the-accumu ation of water of condensation in 4 said conduit, thereby increasing the differential pressure on opposite ysides of the liquid seal, whereby a portion of the accumulated Water of condensation is forced into said float chamber, and an air discharge passage arranged to dischar e the air after it has passed said liquid sea said air discharge passage communicating with the liquid discharge passage beyond the float chamber, and automatic means 'for restricting `the flow of steam from said air discharge passage.

3. Valve mechanism for discharginvr air and water of condensation from steam heating systems by differential pressure, comprising a float chamber, a liquid discharge Aassage communicating therewith, a iioat or governing-said discharge passage, a controlled air discharge passage arranged to dis-I charge the air after it has?, passed said liquid seal, said air dischar e passage communicating with the li uid discharge passage beyond the float cham er.

4. Valve mechanism for discharging .air and water of condensation from-steam heating systems by differential pressure, comprising .a float chamber, a liquid discharge passage communicating therewith, a conduit adapted to provide communication between a radiatorland the liquid float chamber, a float in said float chamber for governing said discharge passage, a Weir in said conduit having its lower edge substantially below the line of flotation of the float and forming a liquid seal iarranged to be sealed by the accumulationof Water ofV condensation in -said conduit, thereby increasing the differential pressure on opposite sides of the liquid seal, whereby -a portion of the' accumulated water of condensation is forced into said oat chamber, and an automatically controlled air discharge passage located be ond the float chamber andarr ed to disc arge the air after it has assed said liquid seal.

5. Valve meclianism fordischarging air and waterof condensation from steam heating systems by differential pressure, comprising a float chamber, a liquid discharge passage communicating therewith, a float fbi' governl dependindf ing said discharge passage, a conduit adapted to provide communication between a radiawaterof condensation in said conduit, there-- by increasing the differential pressure on opposite sides of the liquid seal, whereby a portion of the accumulated water of condensation is forced into said oat chamber, and a thermostatically controlled air discharge passage located beyond the ioat chamber and arranged to discharge the air after it has passed said liquid seal.

' 6. A steam trap comprising a shell having a iioat chamber and provided With an inlet passage which o ens into the lower end ofthe chamber, a poc et in said inlet passage for the collection of water of condensation, a float in said chamber, a Weir depending into said pocket, having its lower edge substantially below the line of flotation of the float, an outlet passage leading from said float chamber, a valve actuated directly by the iioat for controlling said outlet' passage, and an air discharge passage located beyond and -leading from the loat chamber above the level of the water required therein to' lift the float.

7. A steam trap comprising a shell having a float chamber providedwith an inlet -passage Which opens into the lower end of said chamber and with an outlet passage leading from said chamber, a float in said chamber, a valve actuated directly by the float from controlling said outlet passa e, a pocket in the inlet passage for the col ection of water of condensation to form a liquid seal, a-weir into said pocket, and a passage adaptedffor the discharge of air after it has passed said liquid seal, said air passage leadlng trom the loat chamber above the level of the water therein to lift the float and communicating with the outlet passage beyondY the float chamber.

8. A steam trap comprising a shell having sage located beyond and leading from the ulpper end of said float chamber and disc arging outside of the trap.

9. A steam trap comprising' a shell having a a float Achamber and provided with an'inlet assa e which opens into the lower end of the oat c amber, a pocket in said inletpassage,

a discharge assage leading from said float chamber, a oat m sald chamber, a Wenat the inner end of said inlet passage depending into said pocket and located with its lower edge substantially below the line of iiotation of the float, avalve actuated directly by said float for controlling said outlet passa e ofthe float chamber, and a thermostatica ly controlled air discharge passage located substantially above the line of flotation of the float leading from the upper end of the float chamber and discharging at its lower end into the float chamber outlet passage.

10. A steam trap comprisin a shell having a float chamber and provide With an inlet passage which opens into the lowerend ofthe -float chamber, a pocket in said inlet passage,

a discharge passage leading from said float chamber, a ioat in said chamber, a Weir at the inner end of said inlet passage depending to said pocket and located with its lower edge substantially below they line of'iiotation of the float, a valve controlled by the float for closing the discharge passage ofleading from said float chamber, a valve actuated directly by said float for controlling said outlet passage, and an automatically controlled air discharge passage leading from the upper end of said iioat chamber, and discharging outside of the trap.

12. Valve mechanism ordischarging air 'and water of condensation from steam heating systems by differential' pressure, comprising a iioat chambenfafliquid discharge passage communicating-therewith, a float for assa e' leading from governing said' dischargepassage which occupies 'a greater part of t e horizontal area of said float chamber, a conduit adapted to provide communication between the said radiator and the lower` part of said float chamber below the line of iotation ofthe oat therein, a liquid seal arranged `to be sealed by the accumulation ofwater of condensation in said conduit, thereby increasing 'the differential pressure on opposite sides of the liquid seal, whereb a portion of the accumulated water of con ensation is forced into said float chamber and' acts to lift the float both by iotation and by the upward ressure 13. Asteam trap comprisin a'shell having let passage, and an air discharge passage a float chamber and 'provided with an inlet leading from the upper end of said float 1'5 passage which opens into the lower end of chamber and discharging outside ofthe trap. the said chamber below the line of flotation In testimony, that We claim the foregoing ofthe loat therein, a pocket in said inlet pasas our invention We aliX our signatures in sage for the collection of Water of condensapresenceof two Witnesses, this 20th day of tion, a float in said chamber occupying the March A. D. 1902.

principal part of the horizontal area thereof, ARTHUR L CANFIELD a Weir dependin Jr into said pocket and having its lower edge siibstantially below the line of l W BYRON E' VAN AUKEN' itnessesz' flotation of the float, an outlet passage leading from said float chamber, a valve actuated 1 TAYLOR E. BROWN, directly by said float for controlling said outf l GERTRUDE BRYCE. 

